Fostex VM04 Owner's Manual

Fostex VM04 Owner's Manual

4ch digital mixer with dsp effects
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Owner's manual
Model
4CH DIGITAL MIXER WITH DSP EFFECTS
Introduction
Thank you very much for having purchased the Fostex VM04.
This unit is a digital mini-mixer so the internal signal processing is all done digitally.
Its input section consists of four analog input channels including two that can take a
microphone. The output section, in addition to normal analog outputs like two channel
stereo outputs and a headphone output, also has an S/P DIF digital output via an optical
format with a 44.1kHz sampling frequency and a 20 bit resolution.
Its internal Buss consists of a two channel Stereo L/R and also an independent Effect Buss.
The VM04 also incorporates an internal high quality digital effect (1in/ 2out) employing
the A. S. P. (Fostex Advanced Signal Processing Technology)*, which is newly developed by
Fostex. It can provide a wide variety of Effect sounds. You can also store all the mix settings
you have made in the Scene Memories and recall them instantly.
The VM04 is a light and compact piece of precision sound technology which offers high
quality sound performance and considerable scope for experimentation.
To fully exploit all of its many useful features and functions, we recommend you read this
manual first before you start using the VM04.
* See page 18 for more details of the A. S. P. (Fostex Advanced Signal Processing Technology).

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Summary of Contents for Fostex VM04

  • Page 1 A. S. P. (Fostex Advanced Signal Processing Technology)*, which is newly developed by Fostex. It can provide a wide variety of Effect sounds. You can also store all the mix settings you have made in the Scene Memories and recall them instantly.
  • Page 2: Safety Instructions

    VM04 Owner’s manual CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER - SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. "WARNING" "TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE."...
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    These things may cause electrical shock or short circuit the VM04, and damage it. If the VM04 should become wet, unplug the AC adaptor from the AC outlet, and contact your authorized service station.
  • Page 4: Let's Examine The Vm04 In More Detail

    Application sections in the manual. As far as the size is concerned, the VM04 is a very compact audio mixer with a capacity of 4 in/2 out (4 channel audio can be mixed into 2 channel stereo buss). Although small, it has the beauty of a digital mixer in the high sound quality available and the variety of functions it can perform.
  • Page 5: Input Section

    1. Input Section As Channel 1 and 2 are identical in the VM04, let’s take Channel 1 as an example. In the VM04 block diagram, the input is on the left and output is on the right, i.e., the audio signal goes from left to right.
  • Page 6: Buss Section

    The PAN control is also not available on the VM04 control panel. But you can set it by entering the CHANNEL EDIT mode.
  • Page 7: Effect Section

    After the MASTER FADER, there are two arrows pointing downwards and to the right labeled “METER”. The VM04 will extract the signal level at this point and display it in the LCD Display L/R level meters. In the opposite direction, upwards and to the right, there are two lines leading to the S/P DIF output square.
  • Page 8: Names And Functions

    STEREO OUT L/R, but in S/P DIF digital and optical format. 3. Foot SW jack Connect a Foot SW, such as the Fostex Model 8051, to recall the Scene Memories. See SCENE MEMORY (page 22). 4. Headphone jack and its volume control Connect a pair of headphones to the socket and control the volume level by using the control knob.
  • Page 9 OUT jack. 18. INPUT FADERs Use this to adjust the input level on the individual channel. VM04 Owner’s manual 19. CHANNEL EDIT key Press this key to enter the CHANNEL EDIT MODE. See CHANNEL EDIT MODE (page 15). 20. FADER ADJUST key...
  • Page 10: Before Use

    Do not open the unit yourself as there are no user-serviceable parts inside. <Useful info> The VM04 employs an internal battery voltage display function. See Item10 The other mode (page 26) for more details. 2. Before Use Insulation paper...
  • Page 11: Applications

    FD-8. Application 3: As a Sub Mixer for a Live Keyboard Player You can use the VM04 as a sub mixer to mix the sound of the Keyboard and Sound Module for the main mixer. You can also use the Foot SW, Fostex Model 8051, to change Scenes that you prepared in advance.
  • Page 12 VM04 Owner’s manual Application 5: For one take live studio recording You can use the VM04 to send the mixed digital audio via the S/P DIF to a DAT or PC with Digital In. You can also add the internal digital effect when mixing audio.
  • Page 13: Initial Setting

    When you first power up the VM04, the LCD Display will show the following initial setting. Character section of the LCD Display It will show <FOSTEX>, <VM04> then, “Init.Mix”. Channel Fader display This section will numerically indicate the INPUT Fader...
  • Page 14: Normal Mix Mode

    ON is different from their settings the last time you powered OFF. With regard to the audio, the audio level is recalled according to the Fader setting the last time you powered OFF. As the VM04 Faders do not move automatically, this is the way the VM04 indicates that it has detected some discrepancy between the physical Fader position now and the position the last time you powered OFF.
  • Page 15: Channel Edit Mode

    L10 ~ C ~ R10 with a 21 step digital indication. And the actual sound will move smoothly without any clicking or stepping noise interference. VM04 Owner’s manual 6. Channel Edit Mode Channel Fader display This will numerically indicate the current Channel 1 INPUT Fader position on a range from 00 to 99.
  • Page 16: Eq Lo Setting

    VM04 Owner’s manual 6-2. EQ Lo Setting 1. Press the VIEW key so that the LO dot is flashing on the VIEW Status Indicator. The LCD Display will show the following message: Character section This will display “1-Lo: 0”. This means that you can now adjust the Channel 1 EQ Lo setting.
  • Page 17: Effect Send Setting

    The bottom three dots will flash on the bar-graph. See EFFECT MODE (page 18) for more details of the internal digital Effect. VM04 Owner’s manual 2. Rotate the DATA ENCODER clockwise. The display on the Character section will change to 00 ~ 99 and the Effect sound will become louder.
  • Page 18: Effect Mode

    VM04 Owner’s manual The VM04 carries 20 types of internal digital effects. You can also alter their parameter settings in detail. We will discuss the digital effects here. To fully understand their versatile effect functions, we recommend that you listen to the actual sound while reading the explanations below.
  • Page 19: Effect Type Setting

    The audio may momentarily disappear or some clicking noises may appear when you decide the Effect type by pressing the ENTER key. This is not a fault, but is due to the VM04 resetting its internal circuit (DSP). SCENE NO. VM04 Owner’s manual...
  • Page 20: Effect Parameter Setting

    VM04 Owner’s manual 7-2. EFFECT PARAMETER setting You can alter the parameter setting according to the Effect type. The parameters available in each Effect type. The available parameters differ according to the Effect type. These are discussed here. 1. Reverb related Effects The 12 Effects from 1:HallRev1 to 12:Stadium2 are the Reverb related Effects.
  • Page 21: Reverb Level Setting

    The reverb time value will increase on the display and also the reverb sound on actual audio will become longer. The adjustment range is from 0.1 Sec to 9.9 Sec. VM04 Owner’s manual 1. Reverb Level 2. Reverb Time 3. Pre-Delay Time 4.
  • Page 22: Early Reflection Balance Setting

    LEVEL VIEW The VM04 has 21 Scene Memories. Scene number 00 is the “Initial Mix” preset scene and you cannot alter its setting. But, you can store your favorite scenes on Scene numbers from 01 to 20. The contents you can store are all the settings you make in the Normal Mix Mode, Channel Edit Mode and Effect Mode.
  • Page 23: Scene Recall

    <Useful info> You can also press the RECALL key again instead of the ENTER key to recall the Scenes. In this case, as the VM04 won’t quit the Scene Recall mode, you will be able to keep recalling Scenes, one after another. This is very useful, for instance, if you are trying to recall a Scene, but you don’t...
  • Page 24: Fader Adjust Mode

    VM04 Owner’s manual 8-3. Fader Adjust mode When you recall a scene, all the settings will be recalled including the audio level according to the Fader setting that was stored in each Scene. However, the physical Fader position won’t be recreated. The Fader Adjust mode is used to correct these discrepancies manually.
  • Page 25: Setup Mode

    Scenes one after another. This function is useful when you want to change the Scenes in one go by stepping on the Foot Switch during a live performance. The VM04 has a Setup mode. This is described in detail here. SCENE No MASTER...
  • Page 26: Other Modes

    10-1. Software Version Check Press the EFFECT TYPE key while holding the EXIT key and ENTER key together. The character display will display the Software Version of your VM04 for a second, and then return to the Normal Mix mode.
  • Page 27: Specifications

    FOOT SWITCH Connector: ø6 mm Phone Jack <OTHERS> EQUALIZER HI (Shelving Type): 10kHz, +/-18dB LO (Shelving Type): 100Hz, +/-18dB FREQUENCY RESPONCE : 20Hz ~ 20kHz (TYPICAL) VM04 Owner’s manual RECALL SCENE No FADER ADJUST TYPE LEVEL VIEW CHANNEL EDIT VIEW...

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